At $2,800, Sharp's 60-inch LC-60LE835U LED HDTV isn't cheap, but between its green power-saving mode, its wide color range, and strong 2D- and 3D-picture performance, it's a solid choice for a large-screen 3D HDTV.

Performance With excellent color reproduction thanks to Sharp's Quattron technology, which adds a yellow pixel to the standard red-green-blue tribunal of color, the picture on the LC-60LE835U looks great. We use DisplayMate to calibrate the screen to the brightest, most neutral picture settings and test image quality, and according to those tests the Sharp scored a very high 6,384:1 contrast ratio and nearly perfect red and green color channels. Blue is very slightly off, but not to the extent that you would even notice it without a chromameter. Black levels are excellent, measuring 0.07cd/m2. Despite being an edge-lit LED, the LC-60LE835U showed little to no ringing or cloudiness along the edges.

The screen offers a 240Hz refresh rate mode, along with more standard 120Hz refresh rates and the television-standard 60Hz. Using our HQV Blu-ray Disc to test motion and upscaling, I found that the screen handled all tests admirably, without a trace of judder or tearing. It handled lower resolution input easily, upconverting the signal with no problem. Of course, when you open the menu, the screen distorts anyway because of the strange scaling effect; fortunately, you're unlikely to leave the menus open while watching TV or movies.

The 3D effect is great on the Sharp screen. While its built-in 3D test picture demonstrated some crosstalk, the 3D effect rendered perfectly with our 3D Blu-ray of IMAX: Under the Sea. The aquatic life seemed to pop off the screen, and while the active shutter lenses darkened the image (you should turn off the set's Advanced Energy Saving feature when watching 3D), it still looked top-notch. The only complaint is that the 2.2-ounce glasses feel chunkier and less comfortable than many other 3D glasses, and when Vizio's XVT3D650SV ($3,699.99, 4 stars) offers extremely light passive 3D glasses and Samsung recently announced featherweight active shutter glasses, chunky 3D glasses feel less and less acceptable. Samsung's PN58C8000 ($2,999.99, 4.5 stars) stands as our Editors' Choice in the realm of 3D HDTVs, with a superior picture and deeper blacks, thanks to its plasma display.

With the Advanced power conservation setting, the LC-60LE835U is as energy-conserving as its predecessor, last year's LC-52LE820U, consuming an average of 65 watts. With the Standard power conservation setting, which disables automatic backlight adjustments, that consumption almost doubles to 120 watts. Even this mode consumes less power than the 65-inch Vizio's 165 watts, and much less power than the power-hungry 58-inch Samsung plasma's 289 watts, earning this HDTV our Greentech Approval.

If you want an ultra-thin 3D HDTV with a great picture with a great energy saving mode, the Sharp LC-60LE835U is a solid choice. Its $2,800 price tag is a little steep compared with similarly sized HDTVs, but among 3D HDTVs it's in line. Be prepared to deal with a strange menu system and a less-than-impressive selection of Web apps, though. If you're willing to sacrifice energy efficiency for a better interface and wider Web content library, consider the Sony Bravia KDL-HX800, a high-end 3D HDTV that doesn't have the Quattron yellow pixel, but performed very well in our tests and sports a huge number of online services. The Samsung PN58C8000 surpasses that and earns our Editor's Choice by offering a wide selection of Web apps, plus extremely good image quality with very deep blacks. As such, if power consumption isn't an issue for you, the Samsung is the superior model.

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Will Greenwald has been covering consumer technology for more than six years, and has served on the editorial staffs of CNET.com, Sound & Vision, and Maximum PC. Since graduating from Syracuse University in 2005, Will has been an active technology journalist both online and in print. His work and analysis has been seen in GamePro, Tested.com, Geek.com, and several other publications. He currently covers consumer electronics in the PCMag.com labs, focusing on Blu-ray players, set-top boxes, and other home theater equipment.
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